292 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



April 3, 1839. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



LARGE PE.AR. 



Mr Fessenden — I observed in your paper, No. 

 S4, page 267, an article signed A Sueschiber, 

 stating that the author did not know if the pear, 

 mentioned in a New Yorlv journal, also in yours of 

 the 9th of January last, was an eating or a baking 

 pear. Not being much acquainted with the Eng- 

 U«h language, I thought that when I said it was 

 of an excellent quahty, as well for its size as for 

 its flavor, which were the words of a member of 

 the Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society 

 of Paris, who sent me six trees of this kind, that I 

 ehould be understood that it was for eating ; as it 

 is not the custom in France to use the word Jiavor, 

 ■when speaking of the baking pear. 



I did not wish to profit by the error made in 

 the circumference, tlie height, and the weight of 

 the pear, by saying that I have received the kind 

 of pear, mentioned in your paper of the 9th of 

 January ; but not being fond of puffing, I thought 

 proper to correct this error and give the real di- 

 mensioDS of this large pear. 



With much esteem, 



Respectfully yours, 

 ANDRE PARMENTIER. 

 Horticultural and Botanic Garden, 



Brooklyn L. I. March 15, 



arden, 1 

 1829. ] 



FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



DISEASED BEET ROOTS. 



Mr Editor — Last April I planted Mangel 

 Wurtzel, and some blood beets, about the middle 

 of April. They came U|) well and appeared 

 promising until the middle of June, when the un- 

 der leaves began to wither. As I sjpposed some 

 insect preyed upon the small roots, I put lime on 

 a part and harrowed it in, but it answered no pur- 

 pose ; as those without the lime grew as well as 

 those which had it. I planted some about the 

 12th of May, that shared the same fate. There 

 were a few leaves on the top that kept alive : but 

 I had not more than one third the quantity that I 

 raised on the same ground the year before ; and 

 what I raised began to rot in January. If some 

 of your correspondents will point out the disease, 

 and a remedy, it will confer a favor on 



AGRICOLA. 



East Bridgewater, March 16, 1829. 



FOR THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



CANINE MADNESS. 



Mr Fessenden — If you think this paper will 

 be useful to the public, you may insert it in your 

 valuable repository of information. 



The wTiter has never seen a case of hydropho- 

 bia in the human species — a disease the most 

 frightful of all maladies; almost invariably ending 

 in distressing death. The few cases of canine 

 madness in domestic animals, which have come 

 under his observation, warrant the following re- 

 marks. 



The disease originates in the canine family, and 

 is communicated to other animals by inoculation. 

 The mad animal has a strong disposition to bite, 

 and the poisonous slaver, being brought into eon- 

 tact with the wound, is absorbed, and produces, 

 sTjoner or later, the disease, which, like other dis- 

 eases, is progressive. 



There are two stages. In the first stage, tber» 



is sufficient lime, and the symptoms are sufficient- 

 ly marked, to ascertain the nature of the disease, 

 and confine the animal ; but, unfortunately, this 

 stage is generally overlooked, perhaps for the want 

 of information. 



The symptoms in the first stage, are, sluggish- 

 ness, thirst, swelling about the eyes, especially the 

 eyelids, the eyes inflamed, a refusal of food, an ap- 

 parent soreness in the jaws, dulness in executing 

 the commands of his master, a disposition to be 

 alone, a propensity to ramble, frequently starting 

 up from his slumbers and changing his place, with- 

 out any apparent cause. These symptoms coa- 

 tinue for a longer or shorter time, and the second 

 stage commences, in which, the dog is of all ani- 

 mals the most dangerous. He now leaves his 

 home for the last time, becomes fierce beyond des- 

 cription, his eyes have a greenish hue, he fearless- 

 ly seizes every animal in his way, slavers much, 

 and sometimes with heavy breathing, hastens from 

 place to place, snapping at, or biting and poisoa- 

 ing every creature in his power ; and so continues 

 to do, (unless he should be killed) until his strenglli 

 be exhausted ; and then seeks some obscure place 

 and dies. The duration of this stage is, probably, 

 different in different subjects. 



Every owner of a dog should have a knowledge 

 of the symptoms of the disease ; and carefully 

 watch his dog ; and in case, that any of the symp- 

 toins of the first stage should appear, he ought, ijn- 

 inediately, either to kill, or confine the animal. 



The following case of Natural Canine Madness 

 will corroborate many of the foregoing positions. 



In the year 1813, I lost a valuable dog by the 

 disease. He was of a smaUish size ; and whatev- 

 er is desirable in a dog as to usefulness, was to be 

 found in him — a faithful sentinel, both by night 

 and da}-, possessing a large share of good nature 

 and pleasantry : hence, he was a favorite with the 

 family, to which he was strongly attaclied, es- 

 pecially to his master. He had performed upon 

 him, in his youth, a well known operation, wliich 

 etfectuallj' prevented a disposition for rambling ; 

 and of course, he rarely went from home, e.xccpt 

 with his master. Such was his attachment to his 

 master, and to his master's property, that an arti- 

 cle left in the field, or elsewhere, and committed 

 to his charge, he was wont to guard ; and any 

 person, out of my family, would meet with some 

 difficulty in taking it from him. These remarks 

 seem necessary, as they have some relation to tiie 

 facts in the case. 



On September the 24th, in tlie afternoon, I 

 wanted ray dog, but he was not to be found, — this 

 circumstance being singular, immediately led to 

 sus])icions of the disease. However, before eve- 

 ning he returned, ajiparently without disease, rx- 

 ce])t dulness. I was led to believe, (erroneously 

 however,) from the assurance of others, that, a 

 " dog laboring under the disease would refuse 

 water, and that as long as ho would drink, there 

 was no danger." I immediately offered him drink, 

 and he received it as usual. I then offered him 

 food, which he refused. On my urging him to 

 eat, he would take a small piece and then drop it. 

 His jaws appeared to be sore. From his taking 

 water so freely and vvithout apparent difficulty, I 

 concluded not yet to confine him ; but to watch 

 him closely. On the 25th in the forenoon, I found 

 his eyelids swollen, and his eyes inflamed — drank 

 water freely, but refused food. He was in a slug- 

 gish state, slOpt the greatest part of the forenoon 

 in the door yard, now and then starting up and 



looking about, as though he had heard somethis 

 at a distance, but seeing nothing, would he dov 

 again, frequently shifting his place. But notwith- 

 standing our vigilance, he, in the afternoon, eloped, 

 and I could not hear of him. At that time my 

 suspicions gained strength ; and I prepared a sta- 

 ble, 10 by 6 teet, for his reception, placing therein 

 a plenty of food and water. He did not return, 

 as in the day before, nor have I any reason Co 



think that he returned in the night following. 



The 26th being Sunday, on going to church with 

 my family, I requested my young man to keep dil- 

 igent watch for the return of the dog, and that if 

 he should come home to confine him. We had 

 not proceeded one-fourth of a mile, before we met 

 the dog. He was much pleased to see us, and it 

 was with some difficulty that we kept him from 

 soihng our clothes. He was very wet, having 

 travelled through wet grass, or waded in the 

 water. The appearance of his eyes and eyelids 

 were the same. After two or three minutes he 

 left rne, and made his course directly for home. — 

 Presuming that my young man would secure him, 

 I attended at church. But, to my surprise, on my 

 return, I found that the dog had not been home. 

 Inquiry was made, but it was fruitless. Just at 

 evening, I had occasion to walk about a mile to 

 a friend's house. Having proceeded about half the 

 distance, I again saw my dog coming towards rac, 

 ill a very slow trot. I did not appear to notice 

 him — he passed me, without his usual expressions 

 of attention, went a small distance, then took my 

 ptth and followed me, making some of his usual 

 si^ns of gladness. It being near a wood, and as 

 li! had been fond of game, I repeatedly tried to 

 send him into the forest, as usual, but he would 

 not obey my cotumands, or he would just enter 

 tie brush and return. I then flattered him, but 

 h? did not regard it as he was accustomed. He 

 followed me to the house, and, not wishing that 

 he should go in v/ith me, I laid down my hat, and 

 gave V\m the charge of it, as usual, when I wish- 

 ed him to guard anything. I immediately finish- 

 ed my errand and returned to the door, expecting 

 to find my dog waiting as he was accustomed to 

 do. I fouiid my hat ; but, the dog was gone. I 

 hastened home ; but the dog was not to be found. 

 Night came on and prevented further search. — 

 Hovvever, on the 27th, about 8 o' clock, A. M. he 

 returned for the last time. The symptoms were 

 the same, perhaps increased. He received water, 

 but refused food. I think, at that time, his attach- 

 racnt to the family had become nearly extinct ; 

 yet, with a little flattering, he was induced to go 

 into the jdace prepared for him. He soon became 

 very uneasy and peevish ; and in the afternoon all 

 the symptoms of the second stage appeared. Ilia 

 eyes put on a greenish appearance, and his coun- 

 tenance was inexpressibly ferocious. To him, his 

 master and a stranger were alike. He was in a 

 rage, all the time, wheii any person was near ; 

 snapping, biting, and tearing to pieces, whatever I 

 came ^nthin his reach. His strength seemed 

 double to what it was in health. Although natu- 

 rally clumsy, he was then all spring and activity. 

 There were spaces between the boards, through 

 which he could see, and it was astonishing, how 

 steadfastly he would fix his eyes on a person, 

 standing near, and watch him for a long time, with 

 looks of desperation and vengeance. In this situ- 

 ation he continued till the evening of the 29th, 

 during which he occasionally took water with 

 greediness. I have no cause to believe that ho 

 slumbered during the last stage, or that he received 



